Tempers flared as the Rehoboth selectmen addressed an Open Meeting Law complaint at Tuesday’s meeting.

The complaint, filed by former selectman and current finance committee member Christopher Morra, alleged that the selectmen violated the Open Meeting Law at their Feb. 21 meeting.

At that meeting, acting police chief Lt. James Trombetta stated in open public forum that a Rehoboth police officer had been investigated by the State Ethics Commission and was cleared of any wrongdoing. He also stated that the FBI and the Attorney General have never investigated any Rehoboth police officer.

Morra alleged that this violated Open Meeting Law because it was not on the agenda, and the statements made were untrue.

“Both Selectman Michael Costello and Joseph Tito… are fully aware or should be aware that the statements that were made by Lt. Trombetta and themselves at this meeting were false, misleading, and intended to politicize pending litigation,” wrote Morra in his complaint.

Tuesday’s public open forum

At the public open forum on Tuesday, both Trombetta and Morra rose to address the board, both making accusations against the other.

“I’ll say for the record that the information I relayed to the board and to the public was presented to me by the senior investigator for the State Ethics Commission,” Trombetta said. “…I’m sick of Mr. Morra poking his finger in the eye of the police officers.”

Morra defended his complaint by citing instances where Rehoboth police officers have been reportedly investigated by different agencies in the past and called Trombetta “unprofessional” and an “inappropriate” acting chief.

During these discussions — which involved issues dating back years — shouting matches ensued and the selectmen had to order the crowd to quiet time multiple times.

The selectmen ultimately decided to refer the complaint to town counsel and took no action on it at Tuesday’s meeting.

“What it seems to be boiling down to is an issue of what needs to be on the agenda and can be discussed at public open forum, and I’m happy to let the Attorney General rule on that,” said Tito.